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The Street: An insider's take on Vancouver

Alt and Main

GARY MASON

From Saturday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 3:59 PM EST 16/09/08

Once upon a time, South Main was a haunt for hookers and pimps. But nowheresville no more: Houses are going for $700,000 and up, and the street caters to the city's indie crowd with cool vinyl, designer labels and boho cafés ...Read the full article

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  1. james Ford from Canada writes: I do think the "South Main" area has become one of the most interesting neighborhoods in Vancouver but having grown up and lived much of my life
    nearby, I don't ever remember King Edward/Main or even Broadway?Main
    being "a haunt for hookers and pimps"-run-down perhaps. Maybe Gary Mason is thinking of Kingsway or Broadway between Main and Fraser as
    having that scene, but not Main St.
  2. Puzzled One from Canada writes: And houses selling for 700K? Again, not Main St. Kingsway/Fraser, maybe, but Main is now nudging seven figures for detached homes.
  3. Vickky Angstrom from Canada writes: Main was really cool 7 or 8 years ago. Its over now -- has been for a couple of years.
  4. A Happier Place from Canada writes: Ooo...I like the cinnamon and sugar crepes with vanilla icecream at Cafe Montmatre.
  5. Kevin Chew from Germany writes: Sounds like nothing much has changed since I left the neighbourhood going on 5 years ago! That cinema is the only one of the businesses mentioned that wasn't around back then.
  6. bethany middleton from Canada writes: Main is leaving alternative behind and becoming incredibly gentrified and yuppified. Those 'hip' haunts are all about the yuppies that want to see themselves as alternative and hip, but actually aren't, really. With house prices heading over 1 million (700K is definitely further east, as Puzzled One points out), how could it be anything else but gentrified? Even the glory days of Commercial Drive are over, as the resident population of Portuguese, Italian, lesbians and others gets pushed out by skyrocketig house prices and rents. It's a shame.
  7. vcinbc xx from Republic of East Vancouver, Canada writes: Yeah, 'SoMa' not so much on hipster radar. Perhaps in eyes of older white male residing in suburbs. Helen's Grill? Are you kidding??!
    Granted, South Main remains a cool area and Red Cat Records does rock!
  8. J. B. from British Columbia, Canada writes: I know we're all supposed to be in love with Vancouver for the mountains, the ocean, the laid-back attitude...but I am finding it more and more boring by the year. The expense of it has pushed too many people out of formerly interesting neighbourhoods to make more room for yuppies pushing designer prams. I'm sorry but ubiquitous construction, poor public transit, two Starbucks at the corner of Robson and Thurlow, and a growing presence of too-cool-for-you hipsters has made Vancouver an increasing humdrum place to live.
  9. Chris H from Formerly Vancouver, Canada writes: Main street is only cool by Vancouver standards. It's about half as interesting as Princess Street in Kingston, or a quarter as interesting as Byward Market in Ottawa.

    Why don't you do a story about how Vancouver has become the most uptight boring city in Canada, where even a suburban strip like main street is considered "cool".
  10. Nathan Cool from Vancouver, Canada writes: Vancouver is indeed boring, but it's one hell of a nice place to live. When "boring" is the only insult you can hurl at a city, there must be a lot going right.

    We have the best transit in Canada, the cleanest air of any major city in North America, real mountains a 15 min drive from downtown, ocean front everywhere, sustainable planning, etc, etc.

    It may be boring, but it's incredibly livable.
  11. Eric Kirkpatrick from Vancouver, B.C., Canada writes: I've lived in the area for about 30 or so years. Watched it change from a mono-culture(with a few token Asian stores), Anglophone areas to a very eclectic, multicultural neighbourhood. Lots of families, young urban types, pensioners etc. Stores and restaurants to cover all taste and pocketbooks. Housing is going up but still affordable and covers various needs. The streets are well used by the residents, who are friendly and like nothing more than a stroll in the area and to enjoy the patios and benches that just ask you to sit and talk. And the citizens do care and are actively involved in a City initiated program of community input on planning and development in the area.
  12. Chris H from Formerly Vancouver, Canada writes: Nathan

    Also, the highest crime rate in North America, worst homelessness and highest rate of HIV.

    And Vancouver's transit is terrible.

    Put down the pro-vancouver propaganda and look at the city with your own eyes - the only thing it has going for it is location.
  13. stieg larsson from Vancouver, Canada writes: I live on Main and King Ed and would have to agree with Chris H: Main is hip only by Vancouver's standards. But it's a great street to live on, albeit pretty pricey.
    Vancouver definitely benefits from its great location but is also home to the ugliest housing stock in the western world. Just go a little further south on Main than the area mentioned in the article. Wow. Holy eyesores batman.
    Nathan Cool: You say Vancouver is incredibly livable? On what sort of salary? You obviously bought a house sometime ago. This town's going to get more and more dull as the astronomic prices drive anyone with time for 'hip' pursuits to more affordable pastures.
  14. Abicus Finnley from Canada writes: The wage/cost-of-living equation just doesn't work out in Vancouver. Add rubbish transit, rain, and the ignorant anti-cultural 'elites' running the place and you've got a great city to leave. Which most Vancouverites do.

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